SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California residents will soon have a new way to comply with the Affordable Care laws set to take full effect next year.

California and six other states received approval to run their own health insurance market, meaning companies will compete against each other, lowering prices for lower-income residents.

Out of the more than 7 million uninsured Californians, the state hopes to expand coverage at first to at least 2 million through the exchange. The aim is to set up enrollment in October for plans to start in January.